The opening Classic races of the Irish Flat season will be the highlights of a special weekend of racing at the Curragh in Kildare this weekend.
A dozen colts have stood their ground for Saturday’s Tattersalls Irish 2,000 Guineas with English 2,000 Guineas runner-up Hi Royal set to make the trip over for trainer Thirsk-based Kevin Ryan.
The third and fourth placed horses from the English 2,000 Guineas will also go again.
Aidan O’Brien has not won the race since with Churchill in 2017 and is likely to have two or possibly three runners.
The Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes and the FBD Hotels Orby Stakes make up a strong undercard on Saturday and then on Sunday it is the turn of the fillies in the Weatherby’s 1,000 Guineas.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Jackie Oh has been supplemented to join stable companions Dower House, Never Ending Story and last season’s Royal Ascot and Breeders’ Cup winner Meditate.
The action gets underway this evening with Abba tribute band Abbaesque getting the crowd going after the first day’s racing.
